What are the consequences of excommunication?

[econ21]

As England on early, I was enjoying a peaceful building game, striving towards my glorious achievements, when the French launched a crusade to Morrocco that tried to go via Wessex (I have a fleet to the Med and they probably wanted to hitch a lift).
I remembered reading a post here (Grifman's?) saying he never let crusades through because they sucked up your army. So I refused them entry and unexpectedly got excommunicated.
I paused the game then - time for some shut-eye - but wonder what are the consequences going to be? I've read some posts here saying lots of other countries will target me for crusades.
What happens to the French crusade in Flanders? Does it join the regular French army - if so, I am in trouble - or does it try to get into Wessex again? Go another route? Stall and fritter away.
I am on a knife-edge, as I have sent a good army to conquer Sweden and they are temporarily stranded without a port.
I will find out soon enough, but would be grateful for any preparation and hints.
Thanks
Simon

[Wart]

I've always avoided this, but AFAIK

-expect crusades from your catholic neighbours
-Don't expect to be able to crusade yourself
-Expect your population to get very unhappy, & maybe revolt, the more catholic/zealous they are the more chance of this i think

Solutions
THE POPE MUST DIE! or failing that, killing your king off will do it as well.

Hope thats some help! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

[econ21]

Ugh - so best to have let the crusaders in, then (if you are Catholic)? My only consolation is that my King is old so he should drop off soon.
Simon

[Rosacrux]

Have a horde of assansins (trained, if you know what I mean... you know, taking off emissaries, priests and the likes to gain a couple of stars) and right when the excommunication message hits... send them after the stinking pope. He'll fall and you'll be free (and nobody should've had the time to launch a crusade against you).

[Grifman]

Again, I never let Crusades in. I don't care if I get excommunicated - it's never really caused a problem for me - I've never had any happiness or rebellion problems after being excommunicated.

If you don't let the Crusade in, it has one of two choices - attack you or just sit there. I've never been attacked - usually my army is big enough to scare the Crusade off. So it just sits on my border withering away to nothingness . . . now if you aren't strong enough to scare it off or defeat, then yes, you'd be better off letting it in instead of losing. But if you can defeat, tell em to go back to the Pope!

Grifman